PAL:Phase Alternate Line. Video/broadcast standard developed in Germany, and used primarily in Europe and Australasia. Delivers 625 lines at 25 fps (frames per second).

Pan (1):Horizontal camera movement.

Pan (2):The amount which a signal is divided between two pathways. For example, on an audio mixer, an input source can be
panned across two stereo channels.Related info: Stereo

Pan and Scan:A method of converting widescreen film or video to 4x3 aspect ratio in order to be displayed on traditional television sets. The most important area of the frame is selected and the rest discarded.More info: Pan & scan, Aspect ratios

Pan Pot:Pan Potentiometer. A component which pans a signal across two pathways. Typically a knob or slider. The knob
on a domestic stereo which pans between left and right speakers is a pan pot.

Pepper Light:A small light, around 200w, used to light small spaces or to highlight certain features.More info: Pepper Lights

Persistence of Vision:A widely-accepted but scientifically unfounded theory which states that the human eye (and/or brain) always retains images for a fraction of a second.More info: Persistence of Vision

Phantom Power:A means of distributing a DC current through audio cables to provide power for microphones and other equipment.More info: Phantom power

Pre-Roll:The "lead-in" time at the beginning of a tape edit. When performing an edit, the tapes are rewound a few
seconds, then played back before the edit begins. This ensures that the tapes are running at exactly the right speed.

PZM:Pressure Zone Microphone, AKA boundary effect microphone. This type of mic
uses a flat surface to pick up the pressure waves bouncing of a "boundary" such
as the floor, a table, wall, etc. These mics are often used in conference situations — the
mic lies flat and unobtrusive in the middle of the table.More info: PZM mics